World’s most expensive pee
On Wednesday, April 15th, the Department of Justice released a statement regarding Logan Labs, a reference lab in Tampa, Florida, Tampa Pain, a pain clinic also based in Tampa, as well as two of their executives (Michael T. Doyle and Christopher Utz Toepke). The group has agreed to pay $41 million to resolve allegations against them for unnecessary drug testing.
The company was being accused of billing federal health care programs for unnecessary Urine Drug Testing. The government alleged that these billings were for testing that was not medically reasonable or necessary in any way. The alleged testing took place between 2010 and 2017 at both Tampa Pain and Logan Labs.
This $41 million settlement fully resolves the allegations for both companies, which had been brought up in two separate lawsuits. These unnecessary urine tests were performed to increase laboratory profits and had no medical reason for being performed.
In an attempt to prevent these manipulative tests in the future, both Tampa Pain and Logan Labs entered a “Corporate Integrity Agreement” with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unnecessary billings like this drain federal resources that could be used for medically necessary procedures and tests instead.
The federal government has placed a strong emphasis on preventing healthcare fraud, and these lawsuits are just one example of the government’s attempts to prevent it. Both Tampa Pain and Logan Labs will continue providing healthcare services in the future.
So, the next time they say “Pee in this cup”, ask if it is medically necessary. They could be cashing in on your liquid gold.
